Hi Gillian, 

Welcome to Cancer Chat.

I'm sorry that a member of your family has been diagnosed with peritoneal cancer after being cancer free for a year from bowel cancer. As you have stated it is quite difficult to find information on this type of cancer in relation to men as it is more common in women so I have made our cancer nurses aware of your post and they will reply to you in the next few days.

You can also call them for free from a UK landline on 0808 800 4040 Monday - Friday between 9a.m-5p.m and they will be more than happy to discuss your family member's situation with you.

Kind Regards, 

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hello Gillan 64,

Thanks  for posting a question. I am sorry to learn about your relative’s situation.

It is not clear from your post if your relative has a cancer which started in the peritoneal lining (primary peritoneal cancer) or if the bowel cancer has come back in the peritoneal lining of the abdomen (secondary peritoneal cancer).  This distinction is important because if the cancer has spread from the bowel it will be bowel cancer cells on the peritoneum. These cells should respond to treatments for advanced bowel cancer rather than treatment for primary peritoneal cancer.  When men have peritoneal cancer it is usually a secondary cancer which has spread from the bowel or stomach. Although it can happen, it is unusual for a cancer to start there.

If your family member has cancer which has spread from his bowel there is some general information about this and how it is treated on the Beating bowel cancer website here.

If your relative has primary peritoneal cancer it will be treated in much the same way as it is for women. If you have not already seen it we have some information about the treatment here.

If possible doctors will operate to remove as much of the cancer as possible. This will be followed by chemotherapy using the same drugs that are used for ovarian cancer.

It can be very isolating for men when they are diagnosed with a type of cancer which is more common in women as much of the information can have a gender bias. But the disease is uncommon in women and almost unheard of in men. So there is not really much written specifically about men with the condition.

When cancer cannot be cured the aim of treatment is to slow down the cancer growth and even hopefully shrink it. This can improve symptoms and extend life. It is difficult to suggest what will happen to your relative as to some extent this will depend on the extent of the cancer and how well he responds to treatment.

Do get back to us if you have any other questions. If you would like to telephone the nurse team our Freephone number is 0808 800 4040. We are here from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9am to 5pm.

All the best

Jean

Hello,Gillian64

Thanks for getting back to us.

As you probably know the peritoneum is a big membrane which covers the organs in the  abdomen and pelvis. As peritoneal cancer can occur just about anywhere on this sheet of tissue, it is difficult to know what type of surgery someone with this condition might have. This depends on how much cancer there is and where it is.

But the surgeon will probably strip off the peritoneum and remove any tissues that the cancer may have grown into. So it could include removal of part of  the small bowel, or more of the large bowel. In some cases they may remove the spleen or part of the liver, and a fatty pad of tissue that covers the intestines called the omentum.  This varies between people.  But it could involve quite major surgery. Also in some cases the  surgeon may not be quite sure about what needs to be done until they have a look when they  do the operation.

I am sorry that I cannot give you a more specific answer, but I hope that it is of some help.

All the best,

Jean

Hi,

I have just read your post and this is the only thing i have found which is a similar case to my brother. He has been suffering for 6 months with bowel issues and pains in his abdomen. He has had numerous tests (colonoscopy/bloods/faeses tests) but nothing showed up. He was referred to gastro but they just said it was something he had eaten, but it wasn't as he had already cut out most things from his diet (trying to elivate the pain and discomfort). My brother had to fight for a scan. He was told it would be 4 weeks, he waited but had to chase them up and was told another 4-6 weeks wait so he checked himself in to A&E.

Luckily they took him seriously and did an ultrasound which found his abdomen full of fluid. they sent him for a CT which found nodules on his liver and bowel. He has had biopsies and the fluid drained and he has a provisional appointment next friday for the results.

However on his discharge notes from the hospital it says 'Suspected peritoneal Malignancy'. I can find no information which relates to this, particularly from a male aspect. They also said they don't think the liver or bowel is the primary source which makes me think it is the peritoneal. I am panicing as my brother is only 38 years old, fit and healthy. What has caused this? Does anyone have any answers or stories of people which have overcome this?

I am attending the consultation with my brother as his next of kin next week so i am trying to prepare myself for the worst but pray for the best.

Any info would be much appreciated.

Thank you

Hi I wondered how your brother got along? I was recently told I had an ovarian mass....tumour markers were normal and after mri went in for results to be told they now think it is a retroperitiniel mass and are sending me to another team....got to have a CT next as they seem unsure of origins. Told me it's very rare and has encased my veins so surgery would be complex. Very scared and hard to find similar stories